Jeffrey Keeten's Reviews > Anthem
Anthem
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The baby version of Ayn Rand philosophy, heavy handed, unimaginative, and unfortunately assigned to my son for high school reading. I struggle with Ayn Rand because I agree with some of her points and I vehemently disagree with others. The point is that bad things happen when the left or the right gain too much control because we always seem to end up in the same place with the government oppressing individual freedoms. It is really stunning to think of the millions of copies of this book that have been sold. I would say skip it, but if your child is assigned to read it please do read it. I'm a firm believer that parents should read any book their child is assigned in school to read.
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Started Reading
April 16, 2011
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Finished Reading
April 17, 2011
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Petergiaquinta
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Aug 12, 2013 08:53PM
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Unbelievable they have this as part of any reading curriculum. Welcome to the one star Anthem club.
I'm glad that you found some value in the book Olivier. We will just have to respectfully disagree on the book being "brilliant". I actually enjoyed The Fountainhead much more.
Fortunately, I'd say schools that include Rand in the curriculum are a rarity these days. There's more Steinbeck out there, and I, for one, find that to be a good thing.
(And no, I'm not an adherent to her "ideology", I'm very familiar with Rand, though, as well as her critics.)
(And no, I'm no..."
I found her other works much more interesting. I thought this was as I said in my review "heavy handed and unimaginative". I took it easy on the book actually. :-) This was an early review of mine. If I were reviewing now I would have picked it apart more professionally. I couldn't believe this book was even published, so imagine how irritated I was when the school system assigned it to my son. It was as if she were writing this book so that even idiots could understand what she was pushing. I actually liked The Fountainhead(I read it in my 20s so my impressions might be different now.) so it isn't as if I'm completely anti-Rand.
I agree Bob. This was not the same level of writer who wrote those novels. Truly, I do wonder if this wasn't written intentionally for a less educated audience. I was shocked that my son was required to read it, but then sometimes books for the schools are picked due to length rather than whether they represent the best writing from that writer.
OMG, I have thought about different things which I would and wouldn't do if I had a kid, but this had never ocurred to me. Thanks, Jeffrey. Not that I will ever have a child, but still, if it happens, I hope I remember this. I totally agree. I'm sorry that I can't say anything about the book. Haven't read it. I remember that I didn't like the books we had to read for school. I never wanted to read them. Maybe if I had had a parent like you, it would have been different.
Shocking!
OMG, I have thought about different things which I would and wouldn't do if I had a kid, but this h..."
One of the problems that the school system is facing here is that kids don't like to read ANY book that is assigned to them. If they are told what they have to read then they instantly don't want to read it. Unfortunately for the sake of group discussion the class has to read the same book. I've had several people comment on my review threads who hated a book they had to read in HS, but then when they read it later as an adult they thought it was great. This is one of those books that, though poorly written, still if assigned makes for a needed discussion between a parent and their child. Take it from me Vessey, parenthood is overrated. :-)
I can not believe this book is assigned in school to read. This review is so OLD! When I was a mere baby on GR. :-) I can understand your humorous reactions to reading this book. It is just terrible in my humble opinion.
In my eyes you are a giant!! :-) A Titan!!
John Donne remains a fabulous man, who still gets fans in the 21st Century and beyond. And Ayn Rand an intellectual midget! Cheers Peter. :) x
It is sad, tragically sad that this is still being assigned to reading lists. It is insultingly bad.
“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one."
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7942...
“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. W..."
I was actually flabberghasted when my son came home saying he'd been assigned Anthem. Of course they have to assign the thinnest book of the Ayn Rand biblography because they fear kids won't even bother to tackle The Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged. I have my issues with Rand anyway, but when I started reading Anthem I was more upset about the poor writing than I was about assigning a Rand book. Teachers have to expect more than this from their curriculum.
She is fascinating. I read The Fountainhead in college and found aspects of it inspiring. The fervency of the cult following is spooky bordering on fanaticism. The baby version of her beliefs represented here is almost unreadable.
Well her philosophy is one thing, but this was just so poorly written I find it offensive that it is chosen by schools to be read by students. This is an OLD review I probably should touch it up sometime. :-)
Socialism is evil. It takes away one's ability to choose his or her own path
Taxes us into poverty and discourages the ..."
Setting politics aside, obviously FOX NEWS has you all upset Angela. Who are these large groups? Are they something like the mythical caravan? You might try some other media outlets that have more balanced coverage so that you're not spouting biased FOX drivel. This book is poorly written. It is a horrible example of writing for young men and women to be reading. There are much better written books with similar themes. So I have to disagree that this is a fitting book to read. It is small minded, juvenile crap.
I can also understand why your profile is set to private when your goal seems to be going around attacking other people. Go hang out on Twitter there are lots of right wingers on there.
Well said Henry and thank you for reminded all of us about the benefits of civil discourse. I believe that if we would quit allowing people to post opinions using pseudonyms or from blocked profiles the interactions on the internet would be not only more cvil but much more productive as well. An exchanging of views without the viperous intent.
I wonder, though. I find it fascinating - I think of the internet as a Pre-telepathic stage of evolution (for real!). Worlds in collision! It's only natural that we might have strong feelings about particular works. Opinion, sometimes learned, sometimes not, in the raw and the intense reaction inspired. Good manners, respectfulness and the excellence of our arguments are of course the intelligent approach. There again, if some disagree vehemently and feel the need to vent that, either by lack of restraint or intense commitment, so be it. I've just been reading the reviews of Naked Lunch and find my way to this thread via your review of that book. William Burroughs and Ayn Rand - two more polarising 'mainstream' authors you will not find. Yet intelligent people can disagree with civility. Imagine, though - this is all just a foretaste of what it will be like when we all have to inhabit the same mind. There will be walls of static and noise as individuals try to prevent themselves being absorbed into the group (I think Ayn would dig this idea). Or maybe this is genetic memory from when we evolved away from telepathy in the first place (that settles it to my satisfaction - telepathy is a latent ability that can hinder survival in certain scenarios, and is therefore suppressed. The five acknowledged senses are superior in any rate. Apartness, aloneness and alienness are the sources of life's pleasures ('All Good Stuff, Lady' - Max Miller, the cheeky chappie))